Kalamazoo Amnesty Day is Like A ‘Get Out of Jail Free’ Card from KDPS and Kalamazoo District Court

May 17 is Amnesty Day when some arrest warrants and misdemeanor charges will be forgiven in exchange for coming forward.

First, it should be obvious that all is not forgiven. Amnesty Day has been organized to address some of the concerns that have been shifted to the back-burner by more pressing issues and challenges faced every day by various Kalamazoo law enforcement agencies. By stepping up, those who qualify might have pending charges or warrants dismissed in exchange for participating in a program or taking steps as directed to get some help.

On May 17, 2019, the City of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety, Kalamazoo County 8th District Court, Kalamazoo County Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Department, Friend of the Court, Michigan Works and First Congregation Church will host the 2nd Annual Amnesty Day at the 8th District Court. Citizens of the metro area of Kalamazoo will have the opportunity to address outstanding low-level nonviolent misdemeanor warrants and charges with the goal of preventing incarceration.

Once participants have addressed their pending warrants and/or charges, they will be directed to Bronson Park where social service agencies and other organizations will be available to assist in addressing some of the participants’ quality of life issues. The Court and prosecutors cannot promise that every case will be completed that day, but in those cases that cannot be accommodated, participants will be provided with a future court date.

Note: Amnesty Day is not for issues with Friend of the Court, nor should you go if you already have a scheduled court date. All-in-all it looks like a pretty good opportunity to address that something that may be nagging your conscience and come clean with minimal consequences.